ON Highlights Spring by One Nucleus

Spring 2016

‘We are strongly focused as ever on helping our members maximise their global competitiveness. In our view that means we need to forge strong relations around the globe for member benefit.’ to showcase what they are doing, what they believe in and what is needed for the future. Dame Eliza and her team came back

competitiveness. In our view that means we need to forge strong relations around the globe for

Letty, rescued by the One Nucleus team

Welcome

to me immediately when asked, to say ‘yes’ and her interview is inspiring. Closely followed by a long-time supporter and friend of A very warm One Nucleus welcome One Nucleus, the ever dynamic to our Spring ON Highlights – our Dr Kevin Cox, CEO of Imanova, biannual newsletter which we love who we can always rely on to writing and which members of One talk enigmatically and with deep Nucleus and many of our 10,000 expertise about his interests and strong database tell us they look commitment to the sector. I hope forward to receiving. It’s a true you enjoy both. celebration of our membership – what they are doing that is highly In this issue we see a strong focus innovative, different, exciting and on the importance and need for ground-breaking, both for the the younger generation to be company and of course, ultimately inspired by the sector, so that the patient. I am especially thrilled they engage and hopefully as a that Dame Eliza Manninghamresult, consider the life science Buller, the new Chair of the and healthcare sector as a career Wellcome Trust readily agreed to choice. Do read more about some be one of our two lead interviews. of the exceptional initiatives and drives that companies can be Those of you familiar with our involved in. As for the team here ON Highlights format will know at One Nucleus, we are strongly that we always have two opinion focused as ever on helping our leaders at the top of ON Highlights members maximise their global

member benefit. And we do! BIO is of course not far off now and we have our annual One Nucleus BIO Dinner in San Francisco, very kindly hosted by Amgen and supported by United, Bristows, MassBio, BIOCOM and Life Sciences British Columbia. As well as our annual BIO Breakfast which this year is sponsored by Bristows, MedCity and Business Sweden, and supported by MassBio, BIOCOM and BioNJ. Both these events are

IN THIS ISSUE

New Chair of the Wellcome Trust

Baronness Manningham-Buller talks about her appointment and the Wellcome’s new strategy.

Imanova’s Success and Future Ambitions

Dr Kevin Cox, CEO of Imanova shares the company’s recent success.

Inivata raises £31.5m

‘Fore runners’ for sure.

Member News

Spring 2016

Life Sciences Center, responsible for delivering the Governor of Mass’s $1 billion life sciences programme. Many of you will know the exceptional work she did in support of Governor Deval Patrick Our other key focus right now is and we can’t wait to hear from her our annual translational research with her insights and observations conference in Cambridge – ON about how the Mass cluster grew, Helix. According to Sir William the challenges and the opportunities Castell, ex Chair of the Wellcome – many of which the rest of us Trust who opened our first ON Helix, are seeing first hand now here in it is ‘a great day, very well attended the UK with a burgeoning cluster and with a fantastic speaker linethat needs a deeply robust and up. It shows the importance of secure infrastructure around it. No addressing translational research conference which has translational topics amongst the life sciences research at its core is worth its salt community. Importantly it is a if it doesn’t have the Crick Institute great showcase for the strength showcased in its programme. Thank of biomedical innovation’. Now in goodness therefore that David its 4th year, ON Helix 2016 takes Roblin, COO of the Crick will be a place on 28 June, with our Welcome Keynote Speaker too! With the Crick Reception and BioNewsRound Award aimed at fostering genuine member engagement with companies and organisations from other markets, in an informal setting. Do read more on Page 22.

‘Our Keynote Speakers are truly some of the finest – and they have never been seen together before!’

on the evening of 27 June - we can’t wait to go back to the fantastic newly refurbished Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre. Some of you will remember we were trusting enough of them last year to be the first conference in the venue after the refurbishment – and we were not disappointed. The space is incredible and worthy of the illustrious space it sits within – alongside the Sanger Institute and EMBL/EBI – and of course, the 100,000 Genome Project. Our Keynote Speakers are truly some of the finest – and they have never been seen together before! We have a VIP Guest of Honour at the top of the programme. We aren’t able to divulge who it is until the day. All I can say is that it is a lady, she will open the conference with an inspiring speech, and it isn’t the Queen, and it isn’t me! We are also delighted to welcome Susan Windham-Bannister over from Massachusetts. Susan is the former President of the Mass

opening later this year, it is very timely to hear from him how plans have developed and his vision for its future. Our most recent blog is penned by Nick Lemoine, Medical Director at NIHR and Director of Barts Cancer Institute who will open the afternoon programme with his Keynote. Do read his blog in preparation for ON Helix here https://onenucleus.wordpress. com/2016/04/22/translatingdiscovery-to-patient-benefits/. Just so you know we are not slacking as the programme progresses (!), we are keeping the standard exceptionally high throughout the day, closing with Keynote addresses from Sir John Savill, CEO of the MRC and Jane Osbourn, Site Leader of MedImmune. Do check out Page 21 for more details. We have a couple of sponsor packages still available and plenty of ways to engage with the programme (both for exhibiting and attending). www.onhelix.com. In other news, very importantly, we are delighted to welcome Amgen to

our family as a Corporate Sponsor. Previously a Partner, the Amgen team and One Nucleus work very closely together. Many of you will remember the Amgen Day we collaborated on at the British Library last Summer, which the Amgen team was thrilled with. We look forward to Georg Buchner of Amgen speaking on an ON Helix panel the afternoon of 28 June. In addition we have some new Partners – all experts in their areas: MSD, Lilly, Hume Brophy and Flight Centre Business Travel (FCBT) – the latter of whom can arrange stunning travel deals for you as a One Nucleus member whether it be for BIO or another event (including Advamed and JP Morgan/Biotech Showcase). Finally, every Spring we check out our photo library for a suitably Spring like image. This year we had no need to – the adorable Letty the Leveret featured here, is our very own rescue baby. We are fortunate to have our office at Granta Park, Cambridge – surrounded by countryside. Several weeks ago Polly and Karen in the team spotted her outside our glass door, being pecked by a raven. Jumping to it they rescued her, Polly took her home to care for her and she was then taken later that day to a rescue centre where we are told she is doing well. They sent us the photo a few days ago as proof! A sincere thank you to everyone who chooses to engage with us. I am very conscious that One Nucleus is only ever as good as the membership it is proud to have. I wish everyone a great Summer, a successful BIO if you are going and hopefully some very well earned holiday.

CEO One Nucleus

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Spring 2016

Translating Science into Health Baroness Manningham-Buller, Chair, Wellcome Trust’s Board of Governors

health, neuroscience and mental health, and many other branches of biology and medical sciences. Our commitment to funding such fundamental research does not change, although we are always open to considering how we could do it better.

Baroness Manningham-Buller is the first woman to chair the Wellcome Trust’s Board of Governors taking over from Sir William Castell, who retired in September 2015. One Nucleus talks to her about the evolution of her role and the world renowned organisation’s new strategy. Your involvement with the Wellcome Trust goes back to 2008. What’s this time been like and what changes have you seen?

remain so for decades to come.

Despite being focused largely on the needs of people experiencing disease and ill health, medical research is full of optimism that helps make Wellcome a great place to work. We have confidence in the process of exploring and It is pleasing to see a project come investigating ideas and believe to fruition after years of support that many of them will ultimately and hard work. Wellcome has, for improve people’s health in very example, long funded research real ways. Benefit can come from into mitochondrial diseases. These new therapies and better tests for are disabling conditions that result diagnosing illnesses, but it can also from problems with the energy come from other insights – perhaps supply within our cells. Much of that knowing when not to treat people research was to understand the medically, or appreciating the social basic biology of mitochondria and and cultural dimensions of certain their role as the ‘batteries’ in our health conditions. Wellcome has cells, but it also led the scientists taken a leading role in developing to identify possible techniques for research in the medical humanities correcting problems that cause and social sciences, particularly disease. As a member of the in the UK. These are now mature House of Lords, I was delighted research disciplines that can last year when the UK Parliament contribute much to medical practice.

‘Wellcome has taken a leading role in developing research in the medical humanities and social sciences, particularly in the UK.’

Wellcome is also active in engaging the public with research and helping people to feel they can discuss, question and debate issues around My background is not in science, health and medicine. When I joined, so learning about the research the Wellcome Collection was already Wellcome Trust funds, and gaining There are areas where we have establishing its position. With every insights from the people who do had a positive effect in a much exhibition, it enhances its reputation the work, is not only important for shorter time frame. The epidemic as a venue for people to explore understanding the environments of Ebola virus in West Africa was a connections between medicine, life we operate in but is also deeply prime example of this, and one that and art. That ethos carries over to interesting. also showed how much better we our headquarters next door and need to become at mobilising the influences all the work that we do. Medical research advances at world’s resources to fight epidemics different rates. Much of it takes You took over from Sir William of infectious diseases. There have many years and often needs as Castell as Chair in October – been some improvements in the long again before people begin to what spurred you to take on the response to the epidemic of Zika see improvements in health as a role? result. Such research is the bedrock virus more recently, but learning how best to deal with outbreaks of progress however, and accounts I was invited to apply for the post of different diseases in different for most of Wellcome’s charitable of Chair, not a role I had ever geographical and cultural contexts spending. We support thousands considered as the last three chairs has become a very high priority in of people exploring great ideas in were all distinguished businessmen the research community, and it will which I am not. However, once I genomics, cell biology, population voted overwhelmingly in favour of a legislative change to allow these new techniques to be used clinically and prevent babies from being born with mitochondrial diseases.

(Continued on page 4)

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began to consider the opportunity, I decided to enter the competition to succeed Bill Castell. I had already enjoyed seven years as a Governor of the Wellcome Trust. At the time of my appointment the Governors and the Executive Board were in the process of developing a new strategic framework for Wellcome’s work to reflect the fresh ideas of the Director and I thought that the implementation of that vision would be exciting. Five months in, I am delighted to be in what is a wonderful and absolutely fascinating job. What are your plans and vision for Wellcome?

Spring 2016 drugs continues. Wellcome linked up with the government to fund and house a review of drug-resistant infections led by Lord O’Neill; their first report estimated 10 million extra deaths a year by 2050 if the situation continues unchecked. Clearly we cannot ignore this problem, and by making it a priority area Wellcome is ready to take risks and back creative ideas to address it.

funds and the flexibility to lead or contribute significantly to timely and effective responses to health needs and research opportunities as they arise. Supporting translational research is high on your list of priorities – where do you see Wellcome making most difference?

Our philosophy is that research leads to greater understanding, but Vaccines are another of our priority that new understanding has to be applied if we are to change medicine areas. Emerging and re-emerging and improve health. Supporting the infectious diseases pose a serious move from science to health is one threat, as has been acutely of the priority areas in our strategic demonstrated by Ebola and Zika. The international community worked approach. We aim to improve systems for translational research, together to research and develop making it simpler for researchers an effective vaccine for Ebola, and and entrepreneurs to collaborate and hopes are high that we can do the deliver results. same for Zika, but there are many infections that have no vaccine, At Wellcome, the Innovations even after being endemic in low team supports many translational and middle income countries for activities, which have funded a centuries. Wellcome intends to variety of advances in medicine. stimulate new ideas to overcome There are new cancer treatments, chronic obstacles to vaccine new medical devices and new ways development. of predicting and preventing disease

Our new strategic framework was published in Autumn 2015. It gives us flexibility and focus to support more ideas with the potential to make a difference in improving health. Much of this will be achieved in partnership with other organisations, but the continued success of our investments has allowed us to step up our spending and our ambition is to commit up to Other priorities include research in £5 billion over the next five years on low and middle income countries, research and our other activities. science education, improving diversity, understanding how the The first priority we identified environment influences longin this new approach was the term health, and addressing the rise of drug-resistant infections. path from science to health. This Antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the 20th century. Today however list is not definitive; more will be identified from within Wellcome and there is a lack of new antibiotics in development, whilst the emergence through discussion with the wider research community. We have the of bacteria resistant to our best

thanks to our support for work in this area. We have also helped to develop communities of people committed to health innovation around the world.

Wellcome Trust, London (Wellcome Library image)

The challenge we have now set ourselves – and our partners – is to build on this, and to keep adapting to the changing environments of research and new challenges in healthcare. Researchers need to engage earlier in translation, and we need to encourage a greater diversity of people, not just from the life sciences, to contribute to biomedical innovation. For our part, we will be more flexible in the support we can offer to teams using new knowledge and new technologies to improve health. The Wellcome Trust exists to improve health. Translating discovery into lasting improvements in health is, therefore, a vital part of realising our ambitions. www.wellcome.ac.uk

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Spring 2016

Making Imaging Integral to Drug Development Dr Kevin Cox, Imanova’s CEO

and with Pharma and Biotech to reduce risk in drug development. Most of our studies now involve collaboration between academia and industry and we are leading the field of only a handful of advanced biomedical imaging centres worldwide. More specifically, we have established a strong position in imaging biomarker development, drawing on our skills in radiochemistry, biology, translation and quantitative analysis. We believe that a lack of suitable tools and a lack of knowledge about the role of imaging in research have held back As an innovative joint venture, the growth of molecular imaging Imanova is an expert within imaging and so we are developing a range sciences and their application to the of novel imaging biomarkers, drug development process. Having or i-biomarkers, to broaden the just recently announced the winners application of PET into new areas of of its IMPETus 2015 Pilot Grants, science and drug development. Dr Kevin Cox, Imanova’s Chief Executive, talks to One Nucleus Ultimately, our objective is to move about recent achievements, exciting into man at the earliest possible collaborations and future ambitions. stage to ensure we are studying the impact of disease and drugs on Tell us a little about Imanova’s human physiology – supporting the history and what makes the shift towards experimental medicine organisation different in its and away from a reliance on animal approach. models. Imanova was formed in October 2011 as a result of GSK spinning out the assets and staff of its world-renowned Clinical Imaging Centre to a joint venture between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and three world-class London universities: Imperial College London (ICL), King’s College London (KCL) and University College London (UCL). Set up as an independent company, Imanova is uniquely positioned to work across the innovation pipeline. With deep expertise in translational biomedical imaging – Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and related sciences, we work with academia in disease research

we are a service-based business – albeit at the high science and innovation end of the spectrum. This was also the case at Avecia and GSTS. This means that as we evolve and grow, we need to implement effective processes for delivery of our services to the highest quality, whilst retaining the scientific leadership required to differentiate Imanova from emerging competitors. Like Avecia and GSTS, the services we deliver require knowledge and expertise across many scientific disciplines, but imaging expertise is probably more highly specialised. People with the required skills are hard to find and so we need to recruit from across the world, which leads to a very diverse workforce. This makes Imanova a real melting pot of nationalities, cultures and knowledge and an extremely stimulating place to work. An important new aspect of the Imanova role is the interaction we have with our academic partners. Having always had an interest in how academia and industry can work better together, I now

‘I believe we are close to reaching a stage where all CNS drugs will require imaging as a core component of the development process’

How do you tackle your role as CEO and how does this compare to your roles at GSTS Pathology and Avecia? Interestingly, there are quite a few similarities between all three roles and I hope I can bring some previous experiences - and maybe a few scars - to bear on the opportunities and challenges we face at Imanova. Ultimately,

have a good understanding of the opportunities that exist to improve this interface and build improved translational capabilities in UK Lifesciences. For Imanova specifically, access to experts in a wide range of disease areas provides considerable value to our commercial business, but we will need to maintain an appropriate balance of activity between academia and industry to ensure our long term objectives are met. (Continued on page 6)

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Spring 2016

researchers in new areas of science, Where do you see Imanova in and to generate early data that 10 years’ time? can support full grant applications. My main objective is to ensure that In our recent 2015 round the in 10 years’ time Imanova remains winning projects include some the leading molecular imaging exciting developments in CAR-T, centre world-wide and continues to ME/CFS, fibrosis and dementia. I believe we are close to reaching grow and be profitable. Of course, At present there are over 20 a stage where all Central Nervous these words are easy to say so I IMPETus projects at various stages System (CNS) drugs will require think it’s also important to consider of implementation and the ones imaging as a core component what we will have achieved over this that have completed have already of the development process – secured over £2m of grant funding. time. I would like imaging to have particularly in assessing tissue The competition is open to academic become an integral component of penetration and target engagement. groups from across the UK but, as all drug development programmes Most Pharma companies have where it adds value – both in our contribution is providing free now introduced translational the brain and beyond. Imanova, scans with existing tracers, clinical development and biomarker groups support and subject recruitment in collaboration with academia, into their businesses which will needs to be handled by the Principle charities and industry, will have drive the continued expansion of been instrumental in developing the Investigators (PI). the technology. However, we are new tools required to improve our IMPETus is part of our mission still restricted by a lack of tools, understanding of complex diseases to increase the use of imaging or imaging biomarkers, that could – such as dementia – so we are in academic research. Another provide greater insight into core able to stratify patients and treat example of this is the recent launch biological processes and disease them in the most effective way. progression. The recent upsurge of of MIAKAT. Free to academics, this Our business will have retained a is an easy-to-use, downloadable interest in developing treatments scientific heart to drive innovation for dementia will only be sustained if we can get early read outs of drug intervention. We are very keen to support these ongoing ‘We are also proud of our recent collaboration efforts and now have interests in with Imperial College and, through this, our developing suitable biomarkers for inclusion in the DPUK network of imaging a range of neurological diseases, centres for dementia research.’ such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). There are still software product for quantitative many unexplored avenues for but will have broadened to include analysis of dynamic PET scans. disease treatment in the CNS and related activities across the drug Since January we have had around development value chain. And we are just scratching the surface. 100 downloads globally and we finally, as a result of our leadership We are also looking at how our hope to create an international and innovation we still attract and knowledge of imaging can be user community which will help to retain the best imaging scientists expanded beyond the brain and improve utility over time. from around the world. have research programmes in We are also proud of our recent inflammation, immuno-oncology, collaboration with Imperial College fibrosis and infectious diseases. I www.imanova.co.uk and through this, our inclusion in am sure it will take some time for the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) non-CNS applications to become core to early drug development but network of imaging centres for we believe it’s an important journey dementia research. This network, with access to five state-of-the-art worth taking. PET/MR scanners in the UK, has the Imanova has recently potential to be world-leading and announced the winners of its establish the UK as a powerhouse in IMPETus 2015 grant programme the development of treatments for – tell us a little more. dementia – especially given the new sources of funding available. The idea of our IMPETus pilot grants is to expand the applications of imaging by encouraging academic The role of imaging sciences in the drug development process is well established – how will Imanova expand its application and broaden our knowledge and understanding?

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Spring 2016

Successful Funding for a Personalised Approach to Cancer Treatment Inivata team and CEO Michael Stocum (seated, centre)

‘Since Inivata’s seed funding 16 months ago, we have seen an explosion of liquid biopsy interest and funding. With our early presence in Cambridge and our imminent presence in the USA, we are wellplaced to be forerunners in the practical application of liquid biopsy for clinical oncologists,’ explains Inivata CEO, Michael Stocum. Molecular characterisation of a tumour is an essential step to optimising a personalised approach to cancer treatment. Inivata’s mutations present in ctDNA to At the beginning of the year, technology will enable oncologists clinical outcomes. Inivata announced the completion to detect cancer mutations, stratify of a highly-successful Series A patients and assess an individual’s Inivata’s proprietary technology fundraising of £31.5m. Inivata is response to treatment. Using a draws on advances at the improving personalised healthcare simple blood test, the approach intersection of next generation in oncology by developing a simple allows for routine monitoring sequencing (NGS) and blood test to detect and characterise throughout the cancer care cycle. bioinformatics. With the knowledge cancer-related mutations in With the introduction of a multitude that tumours shed DNA into the circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). of targeted therapies for several bloodstream, the founders of the Imperial Innovations, Cambridge cancer types, the potential of company created the first technique Innovation Capital, and Johnson & Inivata’s technology to monitor a to correlate NGS results, revealing Johnson Innovation all participated patient’s response to therapy and multiple cancer mutations, to guide in the round, as did new investor react accordingly is particularly a personalised approach to cancer Woodford Patient Capital Trust. The exciting. www.inivata.com treatment. The original research funds will be used to commercialise was conducted in the Rosenfeld lab, the company’s first product, a located at CRUK in Cambridge. blood test that correlates cancer

Driving Life Science Research Through Continual Innovation In today’s fast paced, technologydriven world, researchers expect more from life science providers. In response, Abcam has adopted several new technologies to help scientists achieve research goals more quickly, and to give them increased confidence in the work they do. To meet the growing demand from the scientific community for better validated antibodies, life science suppliers are taking steps

to improve the quality of reagents. Abcam is setting new standards in the industry by introducing a highly innovative antibody quality initiative: knockout validation. This ‘knockout validation’ approach provides a true negative control by using knockout cell lines that do not express the target protein of interest. This means that researchers can be confident that they are using quality antibodies of the highest sensitivity and specificity. As an industry leader for antibodies, Abcam is applying knockout validation at scale. Over 200 antibodies have been knockout validated since its launch

in September 2015, and the company’s ambition is to apply this level of validation across its entire catalogue. Other innovative steps taken by Abcam over the last year include its acquisitions of Firefly Bioworks in January 2015 and AxioMx in November 2015, each of which bring novel solutions to the fastest growing and most challenging research areas, helping scientists to perform research more quickly and efficiently. www.abcam.com

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Spring 2016

Horizon Hosts Symposium on Gene Editing and its Impact on Personalised and Genomic Medicine Horizon Discovery (Horizon) hosted an event at London’s Science Museum on 15 March for media and analysts, to discuss gene editing and its impact on translational research and the development of personalised and genomic medicine.

increasingly, cell and gene therapy.

Presenters included Dr Feng Zhang, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, MIT, Core Member of the Broad Institute and coinventor of CRISPR gene editing; Dr. Eric Hendrickson, Professor, Hosted by Dr Darrin M. Disley, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Chief Executive Officer and Biophysics, University of Minnesota President, Research Biotech of and expert in gene manipulation Horizon, the morning featured using CRISPR rAAV, ZFN and TALEN; presentations from some of the and Dr. Sebastian Nijman, Associate industry’s foremost innovators, who Member of the Ludwig Institute discussed how ground-breaking for Cancer Research in Oxford, gene editing technologies (including Director of Functional Genomics at CRISPR, rAAV and ZFN) are the Target Discovery Institute and radically changing the landscape adjunct Principal Investigator at for human healthcare by allowing the Research Center for Molecular unprecedented ability to design, Medicine (CeMM). engineer and apply edited cells in Also presenting was Dr Jon Moore, genomics research, personalised Chief Scientific Officer and Vice medicine development and,

President, Research Biotech, at Horizon. Dr Disley said: ‘We are delighted that so many high calibre journalists are taking an active interest in this rapidly progressing area of science. Their feedback on this educational event has been very positive, and has also helped to emphasise Horizon’s leading role as a UK-based company in the highly exciting and impactful global gene editing field.’ Recordings of the event are available on the Horizon website at: www.horizondiscovery.com/geneediting-day

Practical Application of the Law (Cambridge Employment Law) Any talk of changes to UK employment legislation on the back of a vote to leave the EU is clearly premature. In any event, it is likely that few changes would be made, even in the mid to long-term, were the UK to leave the Union. Most UK laws originating in Europe are now firmly embedded in the UK’s human resources culture. Legislative change is disruptive, and for that reason alone, generally unpopular with HR practitioners. It is also expensive. And two of the most significant changes in the UK’s employment landscape, of late, have nothing to do with Europe. These are the Gender Pay Reporting Duty and the Fit for Work scheme. The first deadline for gender pay

reporting may not be until 30 April 2018, but HR teams should be considering how the data would look if the reporting date were now. There is still time to make changes within organisations so that by the critical date of 30 April 2017, the gender pay landscape is one that organisations are happy to share with the outside world.

is our HR advisor and also runs our HR SIG meetings which offer the opportunity to learn, network and share best practice in a ‘safe’ environment. The company was recently named UK Regional HR Firm of the Year 2015 in the prestigious Legal 500 UK Awards 2015, based on ‘thousands of interviews to pinpoint the most capable, expert firms operating at the top of their game.’

The Fit for Work scheme, by contrast, has been in operation since September 2015, but seems For more information on Cambridge a largely unused resource. This Employment Law LLP visit www. is an opportunity to get a free cambridgeemploymentlaw.com/ occupational health assessment, together with a Return to Work Plan for employees off work long-term (at least four weeks). Give it a try. Cambridge Employment Law LLP’s Partner, Eleanor Freeman

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Spring 2016

Momentum Continues at Abzena ThioBridge Ab

John Burt, Abzena’s CEO

selected a lead product. This latest development for Abzena follows hot on the trail of its acquisitions of contract process development and biopharmaceutical manufacturer PacificGMP based in San Diego, and contract chemistry and bioconjugation business The Chemistry Research Solution (TCRS) based near Philadelphia, in the second half of 2015; and a successful £20m fundraise.

In January, biopharmaceutical technologies and services provider, Abzena, signed a significant licensing deal with a listed US biotech company for its novel, site specific ThioBridge antibody drug conjugate (ADC) linker technology, which links antibodies and other proteins to drugs. Abzena will receive an initial licence and target nomination fee and potentially further licence fees and milestones of up to $150 million, as well as royalties on the sale of ThioBridge ADC products. The biotech company has already

The addition of manufacturing capability for both antibodies and ADCs to Abzena’s proprietary technologies and complementary services offering will provide its partners with the option to continue to work with the Group as products, which incorporate Abzena’s technology, move through development into Phase I and II studies. According to John Burt, Abzena’s CEO: ‘As well as expanding the Group’s offering into GMP manufacture, the acquisition of PacificGMP and TCRS provides Abzena with a footprint in key life sciences hubs on both the US West and East coasts. Signing the ThioBridge licence is another

key milestone for Abzena and a great endorsement for the Group’s proprietary technology and expertise. Our scientists have already built strong working relationships with our partner through earlier collaboration work, where we demonstrated the value of ThioBridge in creating novel ADCs. We look forward to working with our new US colleagues and our new biotech partner as their ADC progresses to and through clinical development.’ www.abzena.com

Celebration of Innovation Neil Darwin, CEO and Mark Reeve, Chairman of GCGP

The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough (GCGP) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a celebration of innovation. In February, the LEP launched #100InnovativeDays; an online campaign that showcases some of the greatest innovations from the LEP area, all the way from historic scientific discoveries to modern day innovations that have changed the way the world lives today. Featuring major life science organisations such as AstraZeneca, MedImmune and Sanofi, who are undertaking pioneering research into cancer and genetic diseases, (Continued on page 10)

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through to the world’s first test tube foal being created by scientists in Newmarket, the campaign highlights the wealth of innovation being undertaken in the GCGP LEP area.

Spring 2016 end with a pitching competition at Venturefest East on 24 May at Newmarket Racecourse.

The LEP is seeking five companies to enter into the Venturefest East To follow the campaign, use the Fast & Furious Pitch Off, where they hashtag #100InnovativeDays, or will compete with other companies visit the LEP’s website (www.gcgp. to win the crown of the greatest co.uk/invest/100innovativedays/) to innovation of the East. There is also see the full list of innovations. a cash prize for the overall winner at Venturefest East. This celebration of innovation will

To apply for the Fast & Furious Pitch Off competition, visit www.gcgp. co.ukinvest/100innovativedays/ to download an application form. Alternatively, contact the LEP on info@gcgp.co.uk to find out more about Venturefest East and the pitching competition.

Cambridge Science Centre – An Icon for Cambridge’s Future regional and national needs of children, families and schools, especially those in disadvantaged areas. This is of increasing importance as, despite the positive impact of science on young people’s prospects, the UK is facing a crisis where more and more young people are disengaged from STEM subjects. It’s hard to believe that until 2013, Cambridge had no centre for handson science and discovery. The city’s history is told with beautiful eloquence in its buildings, river and streets, yet until recently there has been nowhere to get a first-hand contemporary experience of the science and innovation for which Cambridge is famed. Since opening its doors three years ago, Cambridge Science Centre has reached over 120,000 people through its location in central Cambridge, outreach events and intensive one-week roadshows. This year the centre has developed COSMOS, a programme of sustained learning that allows it to be active in communities in cycles of years rather than days, opening up uncharted possibilities for what can be achieved. Cambridge Science Centre operates as a small format model that ensures agility and access into communities, no matter how remote. This model enables the centre to respond to the local,

COSMOS, as a sustained learning programme in schools and communities, provides the tools to deliver fun, playful experiences that empower young people, teachers and parents to become more confident and spark scientific curiosity. Would your company like to inspire the next generation of scientists? Cambridge Science Centre is introducing COSMOS Corporate to enable just that. As part of COSMOS, a range of membership packages for companies is being

introduced to support this work. Becoming a member of COSMOS will help Cambridge Science Centre to inspire and engage children in STEM education, and help corporations fulfil social responsibility objectives. A partnership with Cambridge Science Centre delivers fun and motivational ways to engage staff in volunteering and fundraising, as well as generating PR and raising a company’s profile. COSMOS Corporate will show both employees and customers a commitment to supporting education and engagement of children in STEM learning, by aligning corporate brand with an award-winning children’s education charity, Cambridge Science Centre. For more information, please contact Rosie Knowles, Development Manager by email: rosieknowles@ cambridgesciencecentre.org

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Spring 2016

Developing the Next Generation of Scientists are experiencing skills shortages and often take extreme measures to plug the gaps. Here in Cambridge, Form the Future aims to develop the next generation of scientists via early engagement between schools and industry.

Dr Alan Robinson looks on as students try to decipher the lines of text he’s copied and cut out of Charles Dickens’ Hard Times. It’s not an exercise in deciphering literature but rather an example of how to read DNA. In this instance Dr Robinson is introducing students at a local Cambridge school to bioinformatics. This is one of many sessions run on behalf of Form the Future, a new social enterprise that connects schools and business to help students prepare for their future careers.

Form the Future is changing the way young people learn about and prepare for their future careers. A core belief is that students learn best when they get to meet the people doing the jobs, and take advice more seriously when it comes directly from employers. Fortunately, many of the local organisations recognise the importance of supporting the next generation of employees and generously donate their time. The Babraham Institute, Napp Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, Takeda and the MRC are just a few examples of organisations who regularly send ambassadors into schools or invite students to visit and provide work experience. Some, like Dr Darrin Disley of Horizon, share their own journey in order to inspire students to aim high.

the Future is also co-ordinating the activities of related service providers in order that all schools may reap the benefits of working with partners like STEM TeamEast, Founders4Schools and the Astra Zeneca sponsored Career Ready programme. One such school - the UTC Cambridge, has a mission to work in close partnership Linking schools with local businesses to with the local life science and cleantech communities, embedding industry raise students’ aspirations and better challenges into its curriculum – and is prepare them for future careers has always looking for new challenges for been identified as a key economic students. driver for the Cambridge area, so

‘It’s imperative that more people are attracted to careers in life sciences and healthcare, and at all levels.’

If you are a company that can help schools build a science and technology talent pipeline, enabling students to fulfill their potential and make a real difference to the community, please contact: info@formthefuture.org.uk

Careers like his are growing fast but explaining careers in biostatistics is likely to be beyond the scope of the typical careers advisor. Even science teachers may struggle to explain what’s involved. The pace of change in life sciences and healthcare make it nearly impossible for anyone outside of the industry to keep up. At the same time, it’s imperative that more people are attracted to careers in life sciences and healthcare, and at all levels. Companies worldwide

much so that it’s a strand in the Greater Cambridge City Deal. Form the Future is delivering this service for the City Deal and they rely heavily on employers in the region for support. The life sciences are a particular focus as are the technology and engineering sectors. Schools are increasingly recognising that more needs to be done to motivate and prepare students for their future careers and will engage Form the Future to identify potential industrial partners. Additionally, Form

www.formthefuture.org.uk

Member News

Spring 2016

Support for Young People to get Career Ready STEM Students

to increasing the number of young people going into careers in science, technology and engineering and this pathfinder programme is a fantastic step forward for Cambridge.’ There are currently more than 800 students studying STEM subjects and undertaking the Career Ready programme. Of the 441 students graduating from the programme in 2015, 41% are girls. Career Ready is also a signatory to the Your Life campaign which encourages girls to enter STEM careers.

Last September, five schools and colleges in Cambridge joined a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) pathfinder programme, a project designed to support students to develop key employability skills through direct interaction with employers. A compact version of the full Career Ready programme, Pathfinder is enabling 50 students in Cambridge to take part in group mentoring, masterclasses and workplace visits with employers in the STEM industries, putting employers at the forefront of careers education. Career Ready is a UK wide charity linking employers with schools and colleges to open up the world of work

to young people with little family background of higher education or professional careers giving them confidence, skills and networks to achieve their potential. The full Career Ready programme will launch in the region from September 2016. Sian Hiskey was recently appointed as Career Ready Regional Manager for Cambridge and Peterborough to support the programme and develop further links between schools and colleges, and employers. Sian said: ‘We are delighted to be working in Cambridge and to be promoting the vital work of STEM employers in the region to their potential future employees. Career Ready is committed

All students on the Pathfinder will be part of a graduation ceremony in July 2016, attended by local employers, which will act as a further networking opportunity for programme participants. If your organisation is interested in supporting young people across Cambridgeshire to access a career in a STEM industry, or you are looking to work with the next generation of talent, please contact sian.hiskey@ careerready.org.uk.

Spring into Action Over the last 18 months Domainex has been undergoing a metamorphosis. The company started with a major expansion of its biological services and technologies to cover enhanced biochemistry and cell biology. After successfully expanding some of its existing client relationships and winning additional contracts with organisations such as Imperial College, Domainex expanded its chemistry services, by recruiting additional scientists.

This burst of organic growth is likely to continue and Domainex will be moving to a new, larger, state-ofthe-art laboratory at Chesterford Research Park in May 2016. The Company is now planning to introduce additional technologies in drug discovery whilst maintaining Domainex’s focus on high quality science. Whilst organic growth is an important part of Domainex’s future strategy, the company is also exploring other ways to

advance. The first announced step is an alliance with Cresset that will combine its capabilities and technologies in computational chemistry with Domainex’s biological and chemistry platforms to deliver to clients a comprehensive approach to drug-discovery and development. Domainex is anticipating an exciting 2016, with a new laboratory and further expansion. There are plans to grow this new alliance

Member News

Spring 2016

Artist’s impression of the new lab

with Cresset by having client programmes utilise both companies’ expertise. Further similar alliances during 2016 are anticipated, bringing together Domainex’s excellence in drug discovery with other exciting technologies. Domainex’s vision is to provide clients with fully integrated services from target through to the clinic, supported by its own services alongside complementary ones from partners. www.domainex.co.uk

The Zyme Team Expands as Business Flourishes Maree Devine, Zyme Communications newly appointed Senior

Account Manager

leading strategic marketing initiatives and sales projects across Europe and the US – working in distribution, bio manufacturing and CMO organisations including Thermo Fisher, Delta Biotechnology, Novozymes Biopharma and most recently with Peakdale Molecular.

Zyme Communications (Zyme), the public relations and marketing agency specialising in the life science sector, has gone from strength to strength since its fifth birthday celebrations last year. With a growing list of clients asking for assistance, Zyme has recently announced the appointment of Dr Maree Devine to the post of Senior Account Manager. As a marketing and business development specialist, Maree brings over 16 years’ experience

Commenting on her new position, Maree said: ‘What really attracted me to Zyme was the breadth of its service offering and the team’s refreshing approach to business. Zyme is not only a PR agency with extensive expertise in marketing but it’s one that really puts the client at the heart of its business. I am absolutely delighted to be joining such an experienced team and look forward to helping drive the business forward.’ Zyme now operates out of two locations – Cambridge and Manchester - and with this new appointment will look to continue building on its strong foundations to provide specialist, global life science communications support to companies from small start-ups to large multi-nationals. ‘I worked with Maree when she was at Novozymes, and I am thrilled

that she is joining the Zyme team,’ commented Lorna Cuddon, Zyme’s Managing Director. ‘We work with a wide variety of organisations, and gain real satisfaction from helping them to raise their profile, build corporate value and generate interest from commercial leads, investors and partners. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved for the companies we work with.’ Positioning itself as providing a fresh approach, Zyme’s experienced team has the flexibility to support projects of all sizes, ranging from single press releases right through to fully integrated marketing communications programmes involving strategy and planning, branding, digital, design and development. To find out more, visit www. zymecommunications.com or contact info@zymecommunications. com

Member News

Spring 2016

State of the Union? Biotechnology and Intellectual Property in 2016 Andy Bentham, Patent attorney and head of the recently opened

Cambridge office of J A Kemp

Biotech and IP are natural partners because it is hard to maximise the benefits of one without the protection of the other. This keeps patent attorneys busy but, more importantly, it reflects the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thriving research base, including world-class academics and businesses ranging from startups and University spinouts to powerhouses such as the new AstraZeneca global headquarters taking shape in Cambridge. There will always be individual instances where patent applicants feel that they should have been allowed wider claims or that they face an unwarranted freedom to operate issue because a competitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patent is too broad. Overall, though, the UK and Europe have systems in which patents can be protected

effectively, where it is merited, and can be challenged effectively, where it is not. As an example, highly effective biotech drugs, developed under the shelter of patent protection, are becoming the norm but the market has now also reached a stage where patent expiries and validity challenges are beginning to enable the development of biosimilars. Before long, there will also be so-called unitary EU patent protection, which will have pros and cons, but will offer reduced costs and centralised litigation. This may particularly benefit UK life science businesses and Universities, who tend to be long on ideas but short on cash at crucial times in the patent process! This is not to say there are no concerns. In the USA, traditionally the world leader in life science IP protection, recent Supreme Court decisions have been unhelpful. The headlines have been dominated by the Myriad case that declared isolated DNA patent-ineligible, but greater damage has been done by the far-reaching and probably unintended consequences of the Prometheus ruling for diagnostics. Hard cases make bad law and it is not clear whether or when the pendulum will swing back. In Europe, patent-eligibility is, at present, less of a problem but the region is, to an extent, still shackled

by legislation that feels increasingly outmoded as technology marches on. For example, much biomedical research is now computational and there will be challenges ahead in light of restrictions on software patenting. And at a social level, Europe continues to reject genetically modified plants so GM crops can, in essence, be patented but not grown, while the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NHS seems to struggle financially with sophisticated but correspondingly expensive biotech therapeutics. Against these challenges, can IP protection guarantee the returns on investment that such high-cost innovations need? So there is no shortage of things to think about. However, biotech, and its related IP, continue to operate in a stimulating and maturing environment, and are coming of age together. Interesting times lie ahead. For advice about securing, protecting or exploiting intellectual property, J A Kemp (www.jakemp. com) has offices in London, Oxford and Cambridge. Please contact the team via mail@jakemp.com or feel free to get in touch with Andy at abentham@jakemp.com.

Member News

Spring 2016

Revolutionary Technologies to Improve Patient Outcomes MEP Vicky Ford with Owlstone’s Breath Analyser

benefitted from funding reforms made in Brussels, championed by Vicky Ford, which have enabled small companies to co-develop solutions for large public sector buyers such as the NHS. Owlstone’s chemical detection technology is being developed to measure the trace chemicals present in the breath of lung cancer patients. The quick and easy to use breath test technology has the potential to detect cases earlier and allow more effective and less expensive treatments. The project estimates it will save the NHS £82m each year.

Also deserving much praise are the local NHS staff who are determined to improve cancer detection and are seeking new solutions to assist their cause. So much innovation comes from small companies which is why I worked for rule change and these projects I believe are just the start of what can be done.’

Karen Livingstone, Director of SBRI Healthcare commented: ‘The NHS knows it can improve outcomes for patients through the use of new technologies and innovations. Through the SBRI Healthcare programme, we are able to fund the development of new technologies to address known needs. The Inotec AMD is developing an oxygen programme was initially funded with therapy device for non-healing EU support but we have grown this A breath test to detect lung cancer diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot eastern success story into a national and a dressing that brings oxygen ulceration currently costs the NHS award winning scheme.’ directly to a wound were highlights around £540m per year. In the UK, of Cambridgeshire MEP Vicky Ford’s and globally, there is an epidemic of www.sbrihealthcare.co.uk tour of technology companies diabetes and these costs are set to working with the NHS to produce spiral upwards rapidly in the coming new innovations. years. This continuous day and night treatment can be used to heal The two Cambridge-based or reduce the size of diabetic ulcers companies have developed these whilst the patient carries on with technologies with support from SBRI normal life. Healthcare, the NHS England funded initiative to develop innovative Vicky Ford said: ‘This breath test is products that address unmet health effective and cost effective and is needs. The companies have also a credit to the scientists involved.

Member News

Spring 2016

CRT’s License Agreement with MSD for Cancer and Blood Disorders At the beginning of the year, Cancer Research Technology (CRT) entered into a license agreement with MSD to develop inhibitors of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). These promising new drugs, which potentially have clinical applications in both cancer and non-cancer blood disorders, have been developed by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cancer Therapeutics (CTx) with support from the Wellcome Trust and CRT. The PRMT5 protein is involved in many cellular processes, including the epigenetic control of genes such as p53 – a gene that protects the cell against cancer-causing mutations and is faulty in nine out of ten cancers. High levels of PRMT5 protein are found in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), melanoma, lung and breast cancers and are linked to poor survival.

In addition to applications for cancer, PRMT5 inhibitors switch on important genes in the development of blood, which could provide disease-modifying treatment options for patients with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Dr Phil L’Huillier, Cancer Research Technology’s director of business development, said: ‘We’re delighted to have brought together the multiple parties involved in the discovery and optimisation of this multi-purpose target and to have established this major license agreement. The deal provides potentially significant financial returns, which CRT will invest into life-saving cancer research, and most importantly will hopefully bring promising new drugs to cancer patients as well as those suffering from blood disorders where there are no effective treatment options available.’

Dr Warwick Tong, CTx chief executive, said: ‘This is a great result for Australian science and the CRC Programme, as a whole, and further demonstrates what can be achieved when science and commercialisation capabilities unite.’ Dr Richard Seabrook, head of business development at the Wellcome Trust, said: ‘We’re excited to see that the support from our Seeding Drug Discovery Award is playing a key role in moving the project forward. We hope that, in time, the collaboration will lead to the development of effective new treatments for haemoglobin disorders such as sickle cell and beta thalassemia, both of which are associated with significant illness and early mortality.’ www. cancertechnology.co.uk

8th Annual Hume Brophy Healthcare Investor Conference Europe’s Leading Annual IR Healthcare Conference at Simmons & Simmons is taking place on Thursday 13 October 2016. Now in its 8th year, the event attracts leading speakers from industry and the most influential investors in the healthcare sector, who share their views and provide an insight into future trends in the healthcare industry. The conference attracts over 200 C-suite attendees and provides excellent networking opportunities. The drivers of the healthcare industry are well-known: the ageing population, medical breakthroughs that are leading to earlier and faster diagnosis of diseases, development

of innovative medicines and an increasing demand for better quality of life. Advances in technology means that there will be major changes in how and where healthcare is delivered to patients and doctors. Against this backdrop, there is a huge burden on international governments and healthcare systems to provide effective healthcare at an affordable price, and companies are adapting their business models to be successful. Previous speakers include George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences; Sir Michael Rawlins, ex-Chairman of NICE; Dr Gerard van Odijk, formerly CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Europe;

Anne Marden and Premal Pajwani, Healthcare fund managers at JP Morgan Asset Management; Andy Richards CBE; Dan Mahony, Polar Capital and Oliver Maier, award winning Head of IR at Fresenius Medical Care. Attendance is by invitation only. For more information, please contact Angelina De Souza Callaghan at healthcareteam@humebrophy.com

Member News

Spring 2016

Highly Sensitive Kit for Human T-Cell Receptor Repertoire Analysis Clontech Laboratories, sister company of the recently signed ON member Takara Bio Europe, has launched the SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit. The system leverages SMART technology and employs a 5’ RACE-like approach to capture complete V(D)J variable regions of TCR transcripts, enabling users to analyse T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity from human RNA samples or directly from cells.

of TCR-antigen interactions, a tremendous range of TCRs are required to recognise the wide assortment of pathogenic agents one might encounter.

more unique TCR variants, including those that are present in a very small proportion of T cells.’

‘This RACE-based method of TCR profiling circumvents the technical limitations of traditional multiplex ‘We recognise that TCR repertoire analysis is an area of major interest PCR analysis, which is susceptible with significant clinical applications,’ to biases imposed by the various primer pairs. The SMARTer Human commented Carol Lou, President TCR a/b Profiling Kit allows for of Clontech Laboratories, Inc. simpler amplification of TCR ‘Unlike other kits for TCR profiling which work with genomic DNA, our variable regions with single primer pairs, minimising the potential for In humans and closely related SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling species, cellular immunity is Kit works with mRNA and will allow amplification bias,’ noted Andrew Farmer, Vice President of Research mediated by T cells, which researchers to capture and amplify and Development at Clontech participate directly in the detection variable regions of TCR-α and Laboratories, Inc. and neutralisation of pathogenic TCR-β subunits, providing faithful threats. Highly specialised representation of TCR diversity with To learn more about the SMARTer extracellular TCRs selectively bind unparalleled sensitivity. Because Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit please specific antigens in order to activate mRNA templates are more highly visit: www.clontech.com/SMARTerT cells, causing them to proliferate represented than DNA templates TCR-Profiling. rapidly and mount immune in each T cell, they provide an responses through the release of opportunity to sequence with cytokines. Given the specificity greater sensitivity and to identify

Dementia Consortium Welcomes New Partners and First US University Collaboration The Dementia Consortium has welcomed AbbVie and MSD (Merck & Co) as new pharmaceutical partners. The two companies join medical research charity MRC Technology (MRCT), leading UK dementia research charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, and pharmaceutical companies Astex, Eisai and Lilly.

immune system in a bid to halt nerve cell damage in Alzheimer’s and a project targeting TDP-43 aggregation in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

To date, the Consortium has awarded over £1.5m to early stage drug discovery efforts for neurodegenerative diseases, including projects that target the

The link between the immune system and neurodegeneration is the focus of intense investigation and a number of drug discovery efforts aimed at reducing inflammation have got underway

Most recently, in March, the Consortium announced it is funding a team of academics at the University of South Florida, The Consortium is a global £4.5m in a project working with drug collaboration between academia, charity and the private sector which development experts at MRCT to target the immune system in aims to find new drug treatments a bid to halt nerve cell damage. for dementia. This combination of expertise is being used to drive early The project marks the Dementia Consortium’s first contract for stage drug discovery programmes against promising academic targets collaboration with an American University. for neurodegenerative disease.

recently. In this collaborative project the role of immune system regulator fractalkine in neurodegeneration will be explored. As no known small molecule agonists of the fractalkine receptor exist, the Dementia Consortium funding will couple the University of South Florida’s expertise in neurodegeneration and in vivo validation techniques with MRCT’s extensive screening capabilities and medicinal chemistry programmes. www. dementiaconsortium.org

Member News

Spring 2016

HEE Spin Out Sold to Allergan by Northwood Medical Innovation to trained and accredited surgeons, primarily in the UK. Upon closure of the deal, Allergan intends to commercialise the product widely across Europe, in line with its CE mark, and will continue to explore the regulatory pathways and necessary clinical data requirements to commercialise this medical device in other countries, including the Health Enterprise East (HEE) adopted for the benefit of many United States of America. recently announced the sale of more patients.’ its portfolio company, Northwood HEE funded the early proof of Norbert Kang, Consultant Plastic Medical Innovations, to Allergan, the concept work, including animal Surgeon and creator of the leading global pharmaceutical and studies, provided ongoing IPR earFold, said: ‘Following a complex aesthetics company. support and developed the outcome after a standard otoplasty company’s business plan prior to Founded in 2010 as a spin out procedure, early in my career, I was spin-out. Revenues due to HEE of HEE and West Hertfordshire motivated to develop an alternative from the sale will be re-invested Hospitals NHS Trust, Northwood approach to correcting prominent into ensuring that other pioneering Medical Innovations has developed ears. In my clinical practice, innovations from staff across the a pioneering implant technology, there are a significant number NHS are identified, developed and earFold as an alternative to of patients who are reluctant to commercialised. conventional otoplasty surgery in undergo surgery and so put up the correction of prominent ears. A Anne Blackwood, CEO of HEE, with accepting the social hindrance minimally invasive technique, the of prominent ears. The beauty of said: ‘We are delighted to see the procedure takes 20 minutes under the earFold treatment system is first trade sale of an HEE backed local anaesthetic as an outpatient, that it offers an evidenced-based company and to have supported compared to the traditional two alternative to standard otoplasty the development and successful hours in general surgery. Overall surgery that may meet the needs commercialisation of such an patient outcomes are improved with exciting innovation that originated of a wider range of patients, reduced risk of keloid scaring and by delivering immediate and from the NHS. cartilage damage, less chance of predictable results, without the risks infection, faster recovery times and Allergan is an excellent home for the associated with general anaesthetic.’ improved symmetry when both ears earFold technology, with its strong www.hee.org.uk global presence and established are being corrected. range of medical aesthetics’ earFold received a CE mark in April products. We look forward to seeing 2015, and has been made available the procedure becoming widely

UCL Launches its First Investment Fund UCL (University College London) launched the UCL Technology Fund to invest £50 million in commercialising its world-leading research emerging over the next five years. The UCL Technology Fund will be used to support UCL academics, whose research has commercial potential, with funding for early stage Proof of Concept, projects whose outcomes will be licensing

arrangements and new spinout companies. The Fund is dedicated to investing in intellectual property commercialisation opportunities arising from UCL’s world-class research base, focusing in particular on engineering, physical sciences and life sciences. It will build on the success of UCL’s technology transfer company UCL Business (UCLB) in commercialising research from the

university by increasing the number of projects that can be supported. This will, in turn, improve the financial and impact related returns to UCL. Backed by leading venture investors, the European Investment Fund, Imperial Innovations and Albion Ventures, as well as UCLB, the UCL Technology Fund has a long-term and progressive attitude to technology investment. It is (Continued on page 19)

Member News

Spring 2016

19 Wilkins Portico, UCL

managed jointly by UCLB and Albion Ventures. Cengiz Tarhan Managing Director of UCLB, said: ‘The UCL Technology Fund is an excellent validation of the commercial potential of UCL’s research base and the strength of UCLB’s experienced team. We look forward to working together with Albion Ventures, EIF and Imperial Innovations in making the UCL Technology Fund a significant success.’ www.ucl.ac.uk

Scope Open a New UK Office Jennifer Kernan, Office Director

and the patients recruited, the company hired Jennifer Kernan to open offices in the UK. Jennifer is a Clinical Research Professional with over fifteen years’ experience of managing and monitoring clinical studies. During the last two and a half years, Jennifer has established the UK offices and built a team of Monitoring and Project Management staff in Bolton, Greater Manchester. During 2015, the company also hired Aidan Ancill, who is the local BD manager responsible for client liaison activities in UK and Eire.

Scope International (UK) is a Manchester-based clinical research organisation. Drawing on its parent company, SCOPE International AG’s 15 year history of running clinical studies across Europe and USA, its mission is to support companies to bring products to market safely. Over the years this has included product registration for drugs and drug device combinations in women’s health, asthma, epilepsy, pain and anti-infectives. SCOPE has long recognised that the UK is a centre for innovation in the pharma, biotech and medical technology fields; and, due to the need to be closer to sponsors

Through the UK office, SCOPE is able to offer tailored services to support every stage of drug or device clinical development; from

protocol design and reimbursement strategies to study site identification, initiation, monitoring and closeout; data management, statistical analysis and reporting. SCOPE works with a broad range of sponsors from spin-out and startups to large corporates assisting with product concepts, registration and all stages in-between, while providing cost effective solutions. www.scope-international.com

Member News

Spring 2016

PhoreMost Collaborates with the Wistar Institute Dr Chris Torrance, CEO of PhoreMost

targets are currently considered ‘undruggable’, because at first glance they appear structurally resistant to chemical intervention, especially when viewed outside of a cell in a static crystallised form. PhoreMost has developed SITESEEKER, a new ‘phenotypic’ screening platform that exploits the dynamics of a live-cell environment to uncover hidden druggable target sites across the entire human genome and then convert this information rapidly into novel smallmolecule therapeutics.

PhoreMost recently announced that it has entered into an alliance with The Wistar Institute to identify and de-orphan novel targets in cancer, aging and the immune system. The majority of disease driving

Researchers at The Wistar Institute are developing high-throughput phenotypic assays for a multitude of undruggable targets of interest in cancer, aging and immunology, to which PhoreMost will apply SITESEEKER, in order to find new therapeutic options in these unmet disease areas. Wistar will also

provide PhoreMost with specialist disease biology knowledge and drug mode-of-action studies on a project-by-project basis to support downstream drug discovery efforts. Dr Torrance, CEO of PhoreMost, commented: ‘PhoreMost and Wistar share the belief that innovative small biotechs working together with nimble research institutes could represent a new model for drug discovery to increase the diversity of new therapies being developed and bring them to patients at lower costs. I am delighted the Wistar is a founding member in this mission and encourage other academic and clinical institutes to join us in this mission.’ www.phoremost.com

Looking For More Exposure? Join UKTI’s Asset List The Asset List, produced by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), is a catalogue of preclinical and clinical assets that British biotech companies are seeking to partner. Emailed to key UKTI contacts in US based biopharma companies about three times a year, it is further distributed at major US Life Sciences conferences, such as BIO and JP Morgan’s Biotech Showcase. It generates partnerships by matching interested US companies with UK counterparts working in key therapeutic areas. The next iteration of the list will be issued at BIO in San Francisco in June 2016. In order to be included, submit an entry now! To be included in the asset list, please provide a high-quality logo, contact person’s e-mail (clicking on the hyperlink in the

‘document hyperlinks’ opens an e-mail addressed to the contact), keywords, a brief description of the company, and assets. Where a company has multiple assets in several different therapeutic areas, please submit multiple entries. The areas currently represented on the list include: antibiotics, autoimmune, inflammatory and orphan diseases, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic disease, cancer research technology, general oncology, immuno-oncology, drug delivery, genetics, genomics, gene therapy, infectious disease and virology, neurobiology, regenerative medicine, medical devices and software, and multiple therapeutic areas. As the list of assets is reviewed, the categories may change or increase. It may include CROs, SMOs, and other service

provider entries if there is a unique capability and added value. This method of partnering assets has proven to be an effective way to pair prospective and early stage technologies with major US pharmaceutical companies and distributors. Increased exposure for early stage technology is guaranteed. In order to be included in the next version of the list, please contact Matthew Clark at: matthew.clark@ mobile.ukti.gov.uk. www.gov.uk/ government/organisations/uk-tradeinvestment

One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

ON Helix 2016 least, Jane Osbourn, Site Leader, MedImmune will close the meeting. Along with the high calibre of keynote addresses, there will be three panel debates around the following topics: • The future of medicines: Do patients make the best models? • Licensing your ideas: The role of Technology Transfer Offices • Funding early stages of translational medicine

ON Helix will take place this year on 28 June at the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre, Hinxton, Cambridge. Being held in the heart of the world renowned Cambridge Cluster, this unique translational research conference attracts the best from all areas of the life science and healthcare sectors, bringing scientists from some of the top universities in the UK together with industry experts. This year, our ON Helix sponsors include AstraZeneca, MedImmune and Horizon Discovery and the event is supported by the Wellcome Genome Campus and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), highlighting the importance of this event in the sector and specifically, translational medicine. The one day meeting aims to inform delegates of how to turn early stage inventions and ideas into innovative healthcare treatments. It will present the business environment, funding, scientific and clinical

Interactive case studies are a feature at ON Helix and there will be plenty of time built in to each session for questions and debate from the floor. This year our speakers include; Professor Sir Keith Peters, Emeritus Regius Professor of Physic, University of Cambridge and Senior Consultant in Research and Development for GlaxoSmithKline; Dr Jon Moore, Horizon Discovery; Professor Dominic Wells, Royal research excellence of the UK, Veterinary College; Sue Sundstrom, forming a unique knowledge-sharing University of Bristol; Dr Piers environment between academia and Mahon, Global Alliances, Cancer business under one roof. Commons; and Keith Powell, Domainex. We have a VIP guest of honour as our opening address – unfortunately And finally, on 27 June, to launch we cannot reveal who it is, suffice ON Helix 2016, One Nucleus will be to say it’s not royalty but there holding a welcome reception which may be a prize to the person who includes our Summer BioNewsRound guesses who it is! The morning Award and a panel discussion at session will kick off with keynote EMBL-EBI. addresses from Dr Susan WindhamWe look forward to welcoming you Bannister, Former President and all at ON Helix 2016. CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Professor David For more information about ON Roblin, Chief Operating Officer & Helix, please visit www.onhelix.com Director of Scientific Translation or contact nadia@onenucleus.com at The Francis Crick Institute. The afternoon session is to start with a keynote address from Professor Nick Lemoine, Medical Director at National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Director of Barts Cancer Institute. The closing keynote address is by Sir John Savill, CEO of the Medical Research Dr Nadia Shivji, Events & Council (MRC) and last but not Business Development Manager

22 One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

One Nucleus at BIO 2016, San Francisco

The annual gathering of the global life science community that is the BIO Convention will this year assemble in San Francisco from 6- 9 June. One of the heartlands of the US biotech sector, the West Coast provides the perfect context for meetings, networking and deal generation. For the latest travel and hotel deals available to our members via Flight Centre Business Travel visit http://onenucleus.com/ onenucleus-events?id=910

organisations of groups such as One Nucleus and Business Sweden in Europe and MassBio, BIOCOM, BioNJ, Pennsylvania Bio and Life Sciences BC of North America is the One Nucleus Bio-Executive Dinner and Breakfast Seminar.

be delivering its annual breakfast seminar in collaboration with MedCity and Business Sweden.

One Nucleus Bio-Executive Dinner – Sunday 5 June, Grand Ballroom, Hilton Hotel Financial District

Much is written and discussed about how healthcare research, development, delivery and business will evolve as it adopts the increasingly digital approach demanded by patients and healthcare providers. Key to the evolution of the offer is the relationship between the science rich life science companies and the

In addition to bringing approximately 100 executives from these various geographies together this year the dinner will be hosted by Amgen. A number of

The topic of this year’s breakfast session is ‘Technology Corporates and Pharma: Collaborators, Competitors or M&A Partners in Future Healthcare’.

‘A strong focus of One Nucleus’ activity is to nurture our international connections to peer groups for the benefit of our members. BIO provides an excellent hub for us to maximise the benefit of these relationships for our members.’

senior Amgen business and therapy area leaders will be at the dinner At an event on the scale of BIO, to set out their key goals. This is member companies are well an excellent opportunity to build prepared when it comes to the on the Amgen Partnering Day we Business Forum for those preheld in London in 2015, for those scheduled 1-2-1 meetings with present to follow up their leads and known targets. Harder to prepare for are the opportunistic encounters for those unable to make that event with potential new business partners to ensure they have not missed an and collaborators where there is no opportunity. The relatively informal nature of the evening affords previous knowledge of how, where attendees the chance to learn what and why they operate the way is happening elsewhere in the sector they do. Each of the One Nucleus and how they can explore such activities provides our members opportunities with local knowledge. with an opportunity to gain insight in to some of these unknowns prior Full details and registration is via http://onenucleus.com/onenucleusto BIO getting into full swing. events?id=994 A strong focus of One Nucleus’ One Nucleus Bio-Executive activity is to nurture our Breakfast Seminar – Monday international connections to peer 6 June, Hilton Hotel Financial groups for the benefit of our members. BIO provides an excellent District hub for us to maximise the benefit Ahead of the BIO Business Forum of these relationships for our opening in the afternoon, One members. A mechanism that brings Nucleus is delighted, along with together the respective member the headline sponsors Bristows, to

data rich technology providers. Exciting partnerships are already emerging, but in a world where payers want to pay based on outcomes and citizens want personalised treatment plans, will it be the holistic service provision that ultimately dominates? With that in mind, from hearing the initial perspectives of pharma and technology corporates, the panel debate will then discuss how the future business relationship between these sectors may develop. The seminar will finish with two focus presentations from MedCity and Business Sweden outlining what each territory offers life science and healthcare leaders. Full details at http://onenucleus.com/onenucleusevents?id=995

Tony Jones, Director of Business Development

One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

Dates For Your Diary

Key One Nucleus Events United Life Sciences Member Events

MAY 04

BioWednesday EIP, London

OCT 05

BioWednesday Queen Mary BioEnterprises, London

MAY 18

Network Meeting Marks & Clerk, Cambridge

OCT 12

Network Meeting Mills & Reeve LLP, Cambridge

JUN 15

Bionow - BioFocus One Nucleus Member Discount Newcastle

OCT 20

BIA - UK Bioscience Forum One Nucleus Member Discount London

JUN 22

M11 Health Enterprise Forum Harlow

OCT 19

M11 Health Enterprise Forum Harlow

JUN 27

ON Helix Welcome Reception Wellcome Genome Campus, Conference Centre, Cambridge

NOV 02

Network Meeting Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst

JUN 28

ON Helix Wellcome Genome Campus, Conference Centre, Cambridge

NOV 03

Bionow - BioInfect One Nucleus Member Discount Alderley Park

JUL 06

BioWednesday LBIC, London

NOV 22-23

BIA - bioProcessUK One Nucleus Member Discount

JUL 06

MediWales - MediWales Connects: One Nucleus Member Discount Cardiff

NOV 29

JUL 13

Network Meeting Summer Social Granta Park, Cambridge

SEP 07

BioWednesday Gowling WLG, London

SEP 22

Leadership Seminar Penningtons Manches, London

SEP 29

Bionow - BioCap One Nucleus Member Discount Alderley Park

DEC 02

MediWales - UK Healthtech Conference One Nucleus Member Discount Cardiff Genesis Fringe Event: BioClusters Seminar: Collaboration, Competition and Funding Canada House, London

DEC 01

Genesis QEII Centre, London

DEC 14

Network Meeting Pub Social, Cambridge

24 One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

Genesis 2015 Highlights: A Delegate’s Perspective Harriet Fear, CEO, One Nucleus opening Genesis 2015

around: Case-study sessions on deal structures; Empowering technologies with a focus on genomics, immuno-oncology and infectious diseases; Nurturing an innovation pipeline through funding, infrastructure and market access, and International growth strategies, specifically in North America, Europe and China. All sessions were panelled by industry executives and leaders in the sector creating highlevel, extremely interesting and insightful discussions with a wide range of opinions voiced. Genesis, the large scale life sciences and healthcare annual conference, has been running for the last 15 years and has gained the reputation of being one of the most distinguished sector events of the year. Held last December at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in central London, the event for 2015 attracted more than 700 delegates representing 400 life sciences and healthcare organisations from 25 countries. A massive international networking opportunity, the event played host to a wide breadth and depth of delegates, including industry executives, investors, academic researchers, policy makers and small, medium and large businesses. Genesis as an event not only provides information on the latest updates in the sector via a series of presentations and debates from industry leaders, but it also fosters an environment where new business dealings and partnerships can be forged. This years’ conference opened with an introduction from Harriet which led into the first plenary session following a couple of short talks. Richard Mason from Johnson & Johnson Innovation talked about the state of innovation in the industry stating that ’a great idea can come from anywhere,’ and that, ‘innovation should not be incremental - it should be

transformative’. Mike Ward, Global Director at SCRIP Intelligence, summed up the winners and losers in pharma and biotech for 2015. His list of winners included rare disease company Alexion Pharmaceuticals, developer of the world’s most expensive drug, and pointed out that the biggest winner has to be immunotherapy and how this will continue to be the case in the coming years.

Discussions in the plenary sessions evolved around how the public market transfer funds are changing innovation. It was stated that the UK is leading the way with regards to public IP commercialisation. The role of crowdfunding in the ‘valley of death’ was also discussed. Early stage life sciences companies struggle to secure finance and crowdfunding has bridged the gap by providing access to funds at this early stage. As crowdfunding During lunch George Freeman, develops it was mooted that the first and only Minister of life potentially three things would sciences in the world, gave a very result; a quantum rate increase; the inspiring keynote talk about the sophistication level of companies strength of the UK’s world-leading being invested in increases or more life sciences sector stating that the sophisticated investors come on 21st century is all about patient empowerment and emphasising that board. genomics will profoundly transform The new Dementia Discovery the industry. He also talked about Fund was introduced in another the need to demonstrate the plenary session. The Dementia benefits of digital technology for Discovery Fund is a collaboration patients commenting; ‘The UK is between charities, six pharma committed to accelerating digital companies – Eli Lilly, J&J, Takeda, health’ and suggesting our mantra GSK, Biogen and Pfizer - and the should be ‘data saved my life’. Department of Health. The goal of the fund is to invest $200m over The overall theme of Genesis 2015 15 years to support the creation of was ‘Taking bio-innovation to the novel disease-modifying drugs for global market’ and it was reflected in different ways in the parallel and dementia. plenary sessions throughout the conference. The parallel sessions consisted of four streams, each featuring three panel discussions with linked themes. The four streams included discussions

The final plenary session of the day looked at trends in M&A. Pharmaceutical/biotech M&As are increasing and there is a trend of divestitures and portfolio

One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

Genesis has created such a buzz over the years; it is incredibly vibrant from the minute the doors open at 8am until the end of the day when the discussions are carried over to the supplier exhibition hall. Not forgetting the whole week of related events that precede the main conference itself. The Genesis 2015 fringe included seminars on cell therapy, smart technologies, data analytics and personalised medicine. Genesis has

Richard Mason, Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, London

swaps. Companies aim to be the leader in their core therapeutic areas, resulting in asset swaps as organisations become more focused. Companies also seek partnership relationships to enter new markets. M&A will continue to have a role in the future, but it has to be about the right assets.

definitely plenty to offer to anyone with an interest in the pharma and biotech industries and everyone who has a business in the life science market, not just in the UK. The date

for Genesis 2016 is already set for 1 December 2016. Go ahead register and put it in your calendar. Maria Papademetriou, Consultant - Healthcare Technology and Life Sciences

Building Effective Facilities Management Richard Dickinson, One Nucleus’s Director of Specialist Services

Understanding the challenge that facilities management can represent for small technology companies and assisting them with the exacting demands for laboratory, workshop and office space has become a core expertise for One Nucleus.

As a membership based organisation, relationships are crucial to our business and particularly the relationships we build with our members. We offer a number of services in order to help members grow competitively and one of the key, if less well known, services is Facilities Management - available to both Gold and Silver members as well as non-members.

Consultancy Day Rate

Seven years ago an enquiry from Cantab Biopharmaceuticals provided the impetus for us to introduce a facilities management service that offered companies looking to relocate, expand or rework their office or lab space the necessary support to do so. In order to focus on core scientific objectives Cantab were in need of facilities maintenance and compliance management support. It was an opportune moment as Richard Dickinson, our Director of Specialist Services had just joined One Nucleus and with over 20 years’ experience in laboratory and facilities management was able to advise Cantab and assist with the company’s development plans.

Since then, this service has grown year on year and is now one of our key enterprises. As the driving force behind the initiative, Richard has worked with an array of companies within the life science and healthcare sector, both members and non-members, on a variety of projects from as small as a 150 sq. ft. Cat II tissue culture lab to large full scale projects including a 36,000 sq. ft. R&D facility. Typically, Richard is key contact for all facility-based suppliers, from utilities and plant through to lab equipment servicing, and will co-ordinate service visits to coincide with his own time on-site. Taking care of supplier quotation and billing queries to simplify the administration Richard can undertake less specialised roles himself to maximise costeffectiveness. For more information on facilities management please do not hesitate to contact Richard at richard@ onenucleus.com

Gold Members

Silver Members

Non Members

£535

£650

£800

26 One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

One Nucleus Training • Softer Skills including Powerful Presentations, Project Management, Negotiation and Communication. Do remember that One Nucleus members receive discounts on list prices for training courses. Members of the BIA, Bionow and CCRA receive a 10% discount off the non-member rate.

One Nucleus recognises that a company’s employees are its most valuable asset. However, many rapidly growing companies overlook the need for ongoing training of their staff.

Training Providers

The course focuses on critical activities and skills across the lifecycle of partnerships – pre-deal, launch, managing and exiting, and on the most critical areas of success - well managed execution and building stable and productive relationships. It complements the professional legal, financial and contracting advice that you would find from other One Nucleus service providers.

• Animal Health

All our courses can be adapted and tailored to meet individual training needs, and can be delivered cost effectively in-house so please contact training@onenucleus.com to find out more.

We are proud to be working with companies including; Haigh Communications, Labstract, Managing Resources, NovoBio, Perla Development, PPMLD, Research We have developed a range of Applications, RiverRhee, SJC Safety Claire Abrams, Project Manager: Genesis and Skills tailored training courses based Training and Stellar Learning to on the needs of our member deliver our portfolio, full details Understanding Business companies. We are constantly of which can be found on the One MAY Finance 24 developing courses on new subjects Nucleus website. as our members’ needs change. We continue to work in partnership After a successful pilot run, we with Pharmaceutical Training Introduction to Drug JUN are delighted to be able to add International (PTI), a global Development – Scientific 20 an Introduction to Managing interactive training provider. professionals Alliances and Partnerships to Between the portfolios of One our training portfolio. This one Nucleus and PTI, members can and a half day course is designed access discounts on over 80 tailored Introduction to Managing JUN for project managers, outsourcing training courses covering the Life Science Projects (2 day 29 - 30 course) managers looking to further develop breadth of the life science industry, their impact and other professional including: staff having to assume these roles • Agrochemicals and set up partnering capability. The Safe Use and SEP

Management of Laboratory Gases

• Biopharmaceuticals • Clinical Development • Fine Chemicals

SEP 13-14

• Generics • Health & Safety • Manufacturing

Biological Safety: Management and Practice (2 day course)

SEP 27

Introduction to Drug Discovery

SEP 29

Presentation Skills for Scientists

• Medical Devices • Regulatory Affairs • Research & Development

One Nucleus News

Spring 2016

One Nucleus Purchasing Fisher Scientific was awarded an extension as the Preferred Supplier for Laboratory Products and Associated Services (laboratory consumables, chemicals and low value apparatus) for a further three years starting on the 2 January 2016. ‘At the end of 2015 One Nucleus and BioNow members decided to extend the existing Preferred Supplier agreement with Fisher Scientific through to the end of December 2018. As is usual this extension was agreed by a vote open to all members of the scheme, and as Contract Manager for the One Nucleus’ relationship at Fisher Scientific, I am grateful for this vote of confidence in our service to member companies. ‘

profile private and public sector establishments relying on our comprehensive and market-leading cryogenic gas supply service. This is an exciting development for our business and allows us to provide our customers with added value solutions with a total service package from liquid and cylinder gases and associated storage vessels, through liquid nitrogen transfer pipeline, installations and cryo Room design, to the leading cryopreservation equipment on the market. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with One Nucleus and its members; working with them in their vision to be the top European life science and healthcare network.’

‘Air Products is delighted to have linked up with One Nucleus as their preferred supplier for liquid nitrogen. The life science sector is already a major part of the Air Products portfolio, with many high-

‘I am delighted to see Flight Centre Business Travel become a preferred supplier. We have worked hard over the past four years to build a relationship with One Nucleus and its members and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. We now look forward to working alongside many more One Nucleus members over the coming months and years.’ Charlie Tulip – Head of Business Development Support Suppliers

One Nucleus Support Supplier Agreements (SSAs) continue to grow in number and offer discounts to ALL our members. For the full list Nick Brown – Speciality Products Air of SSAs please see the Purchasing pages on the One Nucleus website. Products. If you would like to offer your services to One Nucleus members please contact Richard.

Martin Reilly - Fisher Scentific

In January the Purchasing Consortium awarded a five year contract starting on the 1 February 2016 to Air Products for liquid nitrogen and associated products.

pleased to announce that they are now our preferred supplier for business travel.

The Flight Centre has been a Support Supplier to One Nucleus members since 2012 and has saved members money on business travel arrangements especially to conferences in the US. The Flight Centre is a major supplier to the biotechnology industry. It understands the needs of the sector and as an award winning service, is now helping more One Nucleus members that ever before. We are

Don’t forget we can perform a costbenefit analysis for Silver members thinking of upgrading or new companies wishing to join as Gold members. Please contact Richard Dickinson on richard@onenucleus.com. Richard Dickinson, Director of Specialist Services

genesis 2016

London’s premier Life Science & Healthcare networking conference QEII Centre, Westminster, London | 1 December 2016 Genesis 2016, brought to by One Nucleus will focus on Biomedical Innovation: The Science, Technology and Business of the 21st Century and will build on our previous 15 years of experience in assembling a forum where industry executives, investors, academic researchers, policy makers and expert advisers can exchange ideas. Genesis 2016 will feature: •

Plenary Presentations and Panel Debates

•

Parallel Leadership Streams covering Case Study Deals, Therapeutic Advances, Digital Health and Nurturing Innovation

•

700+ delegates from across the international Life Science and Healthcare industry

•

50+ international exhibitors

•

Prescheduled face to face meetings

•

Genesis Fringe: focused events pre and post Genesis

•

2016 BioNewsRound Award

Join in the conversation #ongc16 genesisconference.com

New Members Corporate Patron • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AGGA Ltd Air Products Plc APCure Apitope Technology (Bristol) Ltd Aptuit (Oxford) Ltd Bio-Analysis Centre Bulb Interiors Ltd Cambrex UK & Eire Limited Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre Cannapharm Ltd Cellulis Ltd Charnwood Campus Clean Cells Combebelle Life CPI Biologics CROS NT D Young & Co LLP Econic Technologies Eventum Partners Gensler Gerard Daniels UK Haigh Communications Healark Limited Hennings Consulting Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hypo-Stream Ltd Imperial College London ThinkSpace Institute of Food Research InterFocus Ltd kdm Communications Ltd Keregen Therapeutics Laboratory Solutions Recruitment LifeSciences British Columbia LucyJRobertshaw MAP BioPharma Ltd Metrion Biosciences

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Mitch Rogers Associates Mitochondrial Substrate Invention (MSI) Ltd Molecular Warehouse Ltd Money Mover Morphogen-IX Mote Research Ltd MR Consultancy Murray International Partners Novintum Bioscience Limited Opticore Medical Ltd Peptinnovate Ltd Protavio Ltd Q² Solutions Redx Pharma Plc Ripptide Pharma Salutem - Digital Health Sarnmere Biotech Resourcing SciTechStrategy Serket Technology Ltd Seven Bridges Genomics UK Ltd Sinan Compass Ltd Spirea Ltd Sunergos Innovations Takara Clontech Telensa Limited The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) Traxeus Pharma Services Trinity Delta Research Ltd Tusk Therapeutics Ltd Valirx plc Virttu Biologics Ltd Worldwide Clinical Trials Ltd Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co LLP Zen Medical Science Consultancy

Corporate Sponsors

Media Partners

The One Nucleus ON Highlights is written by individuals and is not necessarily a reflection of the views held by One Nucleus.

28 June 2016 Cambridge, UK

Translating UK scientific excellence into global therapeutic strategies

ON Helix is the established translational research conference brought to you by One Nucleus, which brings academia and industry together under one roof; bridging the gap between basic research and launching a product onto the market. Our Keynote Addresses:

• • • • • •

VIP Guest of Honour Dr Susan Windham-Bannister, ex-President of Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Dr David Roblin, COO and Director of Translation, The Francis Crick Institute Professor Nick Lemoine, Medical Director at the NIHR and Director of Barts Cancer Institute Professor Sir John Savill, CEO, Medical Research Council Dr Jane Osbourn, Site Leader and VP Research, MedImmune

What to expect from the conference:

• • • • • •

ON Helix Welcome Reception and BioNewsRound Award | 27 June 2016 Interactive Panel Debates 300 + Delegates 30 Exhibitiors Poster Session 1-2-1 Partnering

Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre, Cambridge onhelix.com | join in the conversation #onhelix16